a mask, "this
trial has done you honor, my dear Carmainges, and you are really a fine
fellow--is he not, De Loignac? However, we gave him a good fright;" and
the duke burst out laughing.

De Loignac did not answer; he could not lie like his illustrious chief.

"If it was a trial, so much the better," said the king, doubtfully; "but
I counsel you not to try these experiments often; too many people would
give way under them. Now, let us go, duke; you accompany me?"

"It was your majesty's order that I should ride by the door?"

"Yes; and who goes the other side?"

"A devoted servant of your majesty's, M. de St. Maline," said D'Epernon,
glancing at Ernanton to see the effect of his words: but Ernanton
remained unmoved.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE SEVEN SINS OF MAGDALENE.

The king, however, on seeing his horses, did not wish to be alone in the
carriage, but desired D'Epernon to sit by him. De Loignac and St. Maline
rode on each side, and an outrider in front. The king was, as usual,
surrounded by dogs, and there was also a table in the carriage, covered
with illuminated pictures, which the king cut out with wonderful skill,
in spite of the movement of the carriage. He was just then occupied with
the life of Magdalene, the sinner. The different pictures were labeled
"Magdalene gives way to the sin of anger"--"Magdalene gives way to the
sin of gluttony," and so on through the seven cardinal sins. The one
that the king was occupied with, as they passed through the Porte St.
Antoine, represented Magdalene giving way to anger.

The beautiful sinner, half-lying on cushions, and with no other covering
than the magnificent hair with which she was afterward to wipe the feet
of Jesus, was having a slave, who had broken a precious vase, thrown
into a pond filled with lampreys, whose eager heads were protruding from
the water: while on the other side, a woman, even less dressed than her
mistress, as her hair was bound up, was being flogged, because she had,
while dressing her mistress's head, pulled out some of those magnificent
hairs, whose profusion might have rendered her more indulgent to such a
fault. In the background were visible some dogs being whipped for having
allowed beggars to pass quietly, and some cocks being murdered for
having crowed too loudly in the morning.

On arriving at the Croix-Faubin, the king had finished this figure, and
was passing to "Magdalene giving way to the sin of gluttony."

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